HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Bill 04/16/2001 (7) r THIRD AND E STREETS COMMISSION
Joseph P.Murphy,Jr Chair
�� SANTA ROSH, CA 95404
YIrfi'�` r i I 0,- t �` :'� ;` Kay L.Robert L. Bennett
i• S - -
DorothyBertucc
SO N MA TELEPHONE: 707545-0831 n U. In. r 'John J. Healy
FACIMILE: ;707525-9563 1 Helen Hinteeder
anePK R COUNT` DIRECTOR INTERNET ' - Roger VPerso I B R A R Y rpearson @sonoma.lib.Ca.us VI riCE ASSISTANT DIRECTO R
molly @sonoma'lib:ca.us Molly E'McDermott
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April 10, 2001
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Mayor andtity Council •
City Of Petaluma
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Honorable Mayor and Council Members:
As your appointed representative on the Sonoma;County Library Commission„I am
pleased to up-date the periodic reports I have made regarding the current state,of the.City's
library services.
Newer Members of the:Council,and,staff may not be fully aware of the history and .
. governance of the Sonoma County Library, It is a joint powers agency, established in 1975 to
bring togetherthe County and cities"to provide:equalized library service throughout the area
t • The,JPA is governed by, a severn-member Library Commission, which includes five appointees
by the Board:of Supervisors, and.one each from;the cities of Petaluma:and Santa.Rosa. The
Commission provides policy direction Lover the staffing, budget, operations, and'idevelopment of
the system, with'the Board Of Supervisors responsible`for'final approval of the Library budget.
Each incorporated city has built andowns'its library building, and is responsible for
structural maintenance under aa,.detailed lease agreement. In addition, the.'PA has established in .
each community a local'Library Advisory Board to present to`theiCommission their citizens'
needs and concerns, with one member appointed as theofficial City Council liaison.
The,PetalumarRegional Library is a major facility in the county-wide;:system. It
provides a comprehensive collection of books, periodicalsand multi-media materials for
reference use and'public.borrowing. Internet access and electronic database services are
available through in-house terminals and dial-in access.by, modem.
Last year, patrons made over300,000 visits to the Library,.checked out:almost
400,000 items, anethad more than 72,000 reference questions'answered. 9,865 people
attended 232 adult;andlchildren'sprograms, and community groups.held,90 meetings in the
Forum Room. A,rich collection of local historical materials:is being heavily used in the
Petaluma:History Room;.
Our Library is blessed with,a subs tantial,endowment; the:Cromwell Trust. A $600,000
bequest,..in memory of Lewis Cromwell (a prominent mid-sentry attorney and early library
trustee) was made by his=widow in 1987. The City Council at.thattime entrusted the fund's
Sonoma County'Lib-reify is a publiclagency,created by the joint exercise of powers of the County.of Sonoma and the
C,iiespf Cloverdale,Colali,Healdsburg,Petaluma„Rohner)Park,Santa Rosa,Sebastopol,Sonoma end.Windsor.
investmentto the County Treasurer, and its proceedsare expended on theesole recommendation
of the Petaluma,Advisory Bo w
ard., Over the years, Cromell funds have made possible:the ,
acquisition of special'collections, furniture and equipment.purchases beyond the budgeted
and sharing with the City the installation:of automatic front:doors and a new lighting
system.
Community support of the Library is truly;exceptional, with monetary•donatior s
totaling over`$1,0,000 last',year, and the contribution of -time and-effort:by more than'120
volunteers and Friends of the Library, who have given annually more than 9,000 hours of
.service in shelving,,mending and'clerical work, as well.as staffing the Fiends Bookstore and the •
Petaluma History Rooni.
Cooperation,between'the'Library staff and City personnel continues'to"be,excellent.
Recent improvements include the.installation of a newfire alarm system,and therrehovation;of
the publrc,restroomsr(funded in part by a generous,gift to>the Library from the estate of'Marie
Millmeister..). The City's Housing.Department,has been:especially:helpful in Working-With the
Library on problems:of safety and security inside and outside the building.
The;challenges we face in the near:future on the;Commission level involve the:search for
a new Director'following the retirementtof"""Roger-.Pearson;.and the implementation of tfi-just
finished Long-range Strategic Plan and a current Management Assessment Project Changing'
needs of the:community and!innovationsiin library, technology some of the major areas:we
are working to'develop; to provide the most effective librarytservice..
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Petaluma's Library, the oldest in the County, offers its services in a•building the City
can be,proud of -,the $750;000 in revenue bonds for'its construction, authorized by voters in
1974, has.jujt been paid off! However, the very.success of,our active programming and
community°involvementrhas raised a problem of'inadequate space in the Forum Room forthe.
to expand the'meeting:room, and to combine this campaign"with a gala celebration in J iy u drive
well- series sees of travel, art, music and author We,are launching a
to
mark the 25th anniversary of the opening,of our-Fairgrounds Drive facility:
• I'am honored;to serve as°yourrepresentative;on the,administrative body';of the county-
.wide libraryasystem. I am especially gratified by'the high level of service provided here in the
Petaluma Library:forthe people:of our community. I invite you to visit, use, and enjoy this
vital-Cultural and educational center.
Sincerely;,
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Dorothy Bertu ci
Sonoma County.L"ibrary Commissioner •
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